Tag Archives: Dane Mechler

With the ski season nearly upon us, it’s time to start getting serious about this year’s plan of action. For many people that includes getting a new slalom stick.

With two distinct shapes – the Nano 1/XT and RéV 6 – GOODE has a top-of-the-line ski for every shortline skier, as well as those who want to become one. So, which one is right for you?

We recently asked Dave Goode a few questions about the 2017 lineup and what types of skiers are suited for the two shapes.

Which characteristics of the Nano 1/XT and RéV 6 are similar to each other, and which characteristics are unique to each shape?

Dave: One way in which they are both similar is that they are both tournament tested, high-performing skis. At the 2016 Big Dawg Finals, 13 of the Sweet 16 were on GOODEs. Six were on the Nano 1 or XT, six were on the RéV 6 and one was on an XTM, so both shapes are capable of winning titles and putting up big-time scores.

Ways in which they are different really come down to a skier’s technical proficiency. If a skier is technically proficient, they will probably like the RéV 6 more and get more buoys out of it. That ski has a higher top end and someone with good technique will ultimately be able to take that ski further down the line. Conversely, the Nano 1/XT is probably a scrappier shape; it’s performance window is a bit bigger than the RéV 6. You can be less than perfect on it and it’s still going to keep you in the pass at your hardest line lengths.

Are there certain skiing styles that favor one shape over the other?

Dave: I’d say that the RéV 6 responds better to a more “flow-y” style of skiing, whereas the Nano 1/XT is probably better suited for a more aggressive skier. The RéV 6 carries more speed through the turn so you don’t really have to do much, whereas the Nano 1/XT you can come into the buoy in pretty much any shape and you are going to come out of the buoy with good angle and acceleration. Skiers who do well on the RéV 6 generally have a longer turning radius, while on the Nano 1/XT they like a shorter turn radius. One likes to let the ski make the turn for them while the other provides more input into the ski in the turn.

Can you name skiers whose individual styles fit the two different shapes?

Dave: I’d say for the RéV 6 it’s guys like Brian Detrick and Greg Badal, who won national titles last year in Open Men and Masters Men on that ski. And Chad Scott, who won the North Carolina Big Dawg stop on it last year. Those guys don’t rush things; they rely on superb technique and are very, very efficient. Then you have guys like Dave Miller, Martin Bartalsky and Dane Mechler who really seem suited for the Nano 1/XT. They are more aggressive and like that shorter turn radius. They have great technique too, but have a bit of a different mindset and approach in the course.

Why have two shapes?

Dave: Well it certainly would make manufacturing easier by just having one shape, but the reality is that there isn’t just one type of skier out there. We want to help all skiers ski better, not just the ones who can only ride one shape. We feel pretty good that by offering these two shapes we are providing people with choices and that the end result will be them getting a ski that works really well for them.

How can someone try a ski?

Dave: Nothing beats trying a ski at your home site in conditions you are used to, which is why I think our two-week demo program is a great way for skiers to try a new ski. Call us at 1-888-GO-GOODE or visit goode.com to learn more.

Team GOODE’s Dane Mechler has been named the 2016 USA Water Ski Male Athlete of the Year.

Dane was selected on the strength of his championship-winning performances at the World University Water Ski Championships, Collegiate Water Ski Nationals (tie), Collegiate All-Stars and South Central Collegiate Regionals. He also scored a new PB of 3 buoys at 41-feet off.

The U.S. 35+ Water Ski World Championships Team earned USA Water Ski’s 2016 Team of the Year honors. The team included GOODE skiers Janie Fausold, Renee Jaquess and Lori Krueger. Krueger was also honored as USA Water Ski’s Coach of the Year.

Congratulations to Team GOODE’s Ambre Franc and Dane Mechler, who took home the Women’s and Men’s slalom titles, respectively, at last weekend’s World University Water Ski Championships in Akita, Japan.

As the only Women’s competitor to get into 38-feet off both rounds, Ambre led the competition from start to finish, clinching the title with a score of 1 at 38 off in the finals. Her fellow GOODE skiers Anna Cespivova, Jenna Morgan and Giannina Bonnemann finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Giannina claimed the Women’s overall and tricks titles.

Dane, competing for the eventual gold-medal winning U.S. team, tied with Dominica Republic’s Robert Pigozzi in the final round of Men’s slalom with a score of 2-1/2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off. In the runoff Dane put up a huge score of 2 buoys at 41 off – the tournament’s top score – to earn the win. Team GOODE skier and European Championships Open Men’s runner-up Benjamin Stadlbaur took fourth.

The victory gives Dane his second world title, as he is also currently the reigning Under 21 world champion.

Thomas Degasperi and Regina Jaquess made it 2-for-2 for Team GOODE as they both won slalom titles at last weekend’s Malibu Open in Milwaukee, Wis. For Regina, the win marked an amazing fifth-straight victory at the Malibu Open, while T-Gas picked up his second career Malibu Open win.

In the Women’s slalom head-to-head finals, Regina ran a full pass at 39-1/2 feet off to beat second-place finisher Whitney McClintock (4@39). The Women’s Final Four feature three Team GOODE skiers, as Clementine Lucine (3rd) and Breanne Dodd (4th) joined Regina in advancing past the semi finals. GOODE skier Kate Adriaensen finished just outside the finals, placing fifth.

It was an all-GOODE final bracket in Men’s slalom, as T-Gas edged out upstart Benny Stadlbaur, with 4 buoys at 39-1/2 off to Benny’s score of three at the same line length. It was the second-straight pro tournament victory for T-Gas, who also won the Canadian Open earlier this month in Edmonton, Canada. The win moved him into the second spot on the IWWF Elite Rankings List behind Nate Smith. For Benny, it was his best-ever pro placement.

In the Junior events, GOODE skiers Dane Mechler placed second in Junior Men’s slalom, while Quinn Haines finished third in Boy’s slalom while also taking the jump title.

In the first ever GOODE Bracket Challenge faceoff between 36 and 34 mph skiers, Thomas Degasperi earned the win by edging Dave Miller, 3 at 41 off to 2 at 41 off.

Thomas’ win concludes a four-month virtual tournament that featured two halves of a bracket: one for 34 mph skiers and the other for 36. T-Gas had to beat Dane Mechler, Chris Parrish, and Daniel Odvarko to advance to the finals, while Dave also had to survive a tough lineup of Chet Raley, Ben Favret and Greg Badal for the right to ski in the last bracket.

While the competition was tough among skiers, it was even more fierce in the online fan contest. Five of the record 341 contestants ultimately tied for first place – boz’s picks, LLUSA, swerve_6, Wbaski and Win ski – with the tiebreaker ultimately deciding the winner. swerve_6 - aka Jack Lyons - correctly picked the winning score of the final round, 3 at 41, to win the tiebreaker. Clearly, Jack is pretty good at the Bracket Challenge game, as he took third place in last year’s contest.

Click here for the final skiers bracket, and here for the final fan contest standings.

Regina Jaquess, the 2013 Bracket Challenge champion and No. 3 seed on the 34 mph side of the bracket, was eliminated by Ben Favret, with a first round score 1 buoy at 41 off to Ben’s 2-1/2 buoys at 41. Regina’s score was no doubt hampered by tough conditions at her only two tournaments of the month: the Malibu Cup and the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. The Malibu Cup featured challenging weather conditions that ultimately forced the cancellation of the final round, while the Pan Ams were conducted in fairly rough conditions on a temporary tournament site located on Lake Ontario.

In the second upset of the first round, the No. 7 seed Greg Badal topped No. 2 seed and 2014 final four skier Jay Leach, 3 buoys at 41 off to 1-1/2 at 41.

Chris Parrish, Thomas Degasperi, Daniel Odvarko and Carlo Allais all advanced on the 36 mph side, while Jeremy Newby-Ricci and Dave Miller join Greg and Ben in the second round on the 34 mph side. The second round will be comprised of all scores in August, including the 73rd GOODE Water Ski National Championships and Malibu Open.

In the online fan contest, only six of the 342 brackets submitted remain perfect. Interestingly, all six perfect brackets pick Chris Parrish to win, so if he happens to fall short there will likely be a major shakeup in the standings.

In addition to many of the world’s best 34 mph skiers, the 2015 Bracket Challenge features a who’s who of 36 mph skiers as well. Now names like Parrish, Degasperi and Finlayson have joined the likes of Jaquess, Miller and Newby-Ricci.

Once again fans will be able to test their skiing knowledge and enter their own March-Madness like brackets. The fan with the best bracket will win a FREE GOODE FlexTail, while other top finishers will receive GOODE prize packages. But you can’t win if you don’t enter. Fill out and submit your bracket here before the July 23rd entry deadline.

The overall bracket will have two halves – one for 36 and the other for 34 mph skiers – with a winner from each bracket facing off against each other for the Bracket Challenge title. In the final round, speed is not taken into consideration to determine the bracket winner. The rope length and number of buoys is the sole determinant of the winner. For example, if Regina Jaquess scored 3 buoys at 41 off (at 34 mph), she would beat Trent Finlayson’s score of 2 buoys at 41 off (36 mph).

To fill out and submit a bracket, or for more information, including rules, click here.

Dane Mechler won the biggest title of his promising career as GOODE skiers took three of six slalom medals at the 7th Under 21 Water Ski World Championships, held last weekend at the Seseña Waterski & Wakeboard Complex in Toledo, Spain.

Dane, representing the U.S., scored 2 buoys at 41 off to earn the win, while his fellow GOODE skier Brando Caruso earned the bronze medal for Italy with 4 buoys at 39. The Dominican Republic’s Robert Pigozzi (4.5 at 39) finished second.

In Women’s slalom GOODE skiers and German sisters Chiara and Giannina Bonnemann finished third and fourth, respectively. Canada’s Taryn Grant and Samantha Dumala of the U.S. finished first and second.

Giannina also won the Women’s overall gold medal.

In the team competition, the U.S. won gold, while Belarus, France, Great Britain and Italy rounded out the top five.

Brooke Baldwin (l) and Bailey Austin took first and second in junior Girl’s slalom, respectively.

GOODE skiers dominated the 15th Lake Dwellers Junior U.S. Open held last weekend in Scott, Ark., claiming seven of 12 slalom medals and the junior Boy’s and Girl’s overall titles.

Brooke Baldwin continued her fantastic spring by winning junior Girl’s slalom with a Junior U.S. Open record of 2 buoys at 39-1/2 off, and claiming the Girl’s overall and jumping titles as well. Baldwin was joined in the Girl’s slalom top five by her fellow GOODE skiers Bailey Austin (2nd), Ruth McCreary (4th) and her sister Kristen Baldwin (5th), who also took second in overall.

Quinn Haines took third in junior Boy’s slalom and first in jump on his way to the overall title, while Zach Montavon joined Haines in the top three of Boy’s slalom with a second-place finish.